Senator Davis Greets International Visitors

Last year, Senator Gene Davis received the Citizen Diplomat Award from the Utah Council for Citizen Diplomacy for his efforts in promoting the State of Utah’s global engagement in U.S. public diplomacy and citizen diplomacy through the International Visitor Leadership Program.  This year, Senator Davis is continuing his involvement with the program, and he met with three groups of international visitors last week at the Utah State Capitol.

A Multiregional Delegation representing 14 nations (Bangladesh, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Hungary, Lebanon, Macedonia, Malawi, Mexico, Serbia, Slovak Republic, Sudan, Swaziland, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela) traveled to Utah under the auspices of the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program, administered locally by the Utah Council for Citizen Diplomacy, to examine “State and Local Government in the United States.”  The International Visitors met with Senator Davis on Monday, March 15, to discuss the roles and responsibilities of state government, training for local government leaders, and informing citizens about state policy making.  (see photo of the group below)

A 6-person delegation from South Korea traveled to Utah as guests of the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program, administered locally by the Utah Council for Citizen Diplomacy, to examine “Executive and Legislative Branch Cooperation and Competition.”  The Delegates met with Senator Davis on Tuesday, March 16, to receive an overview of the role and function of the two chambers of the State Legislature, and learn about the interplay between the legislature and the executive branches.  They also learned about the Utah minority Democratic Party, the party platform, and their key issues in Utah.  (see photo of the group below)

An 11-person international delegation from North Africa and the Near East traveled to Utah under the auspices of the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program, administered locally by the Utah Council for Citizen Diplomacy, to examine “Interfaith Dialogue.”  The delegates met with Senator Davis Tuesday, March 16, to discuss how state laws protect religious rights.  (see photo of the group below)

Higher Education, a Wise Investment

by Senator Ross Romero
Senate Minority Whip

I had the pleasure of serving on the Higher Education Appropriation Committee this year, and in those meetings, I had the opportunity to hear about the Utah Higher Education Assistance Authority (UHEAA).  UHEAA  is an agency of the State of Utah which administers Utah’s student financial aid programs.  In 2009, 120,000 students received a total of $496 million in student loans through UHEAA.  Utah borrowers for higher education as reported by UHEAA have the lowest default rate in the nation.  We should all be proud of that.

UHEAA administers the student loan guarantee program and secondary market, state need-based financial aid, the Utah Educational Savings Plan Trust, and the Utah Engineering and Computer Sciences Loan Forgiveness Program.  On the UHEAA website, there is also helpful information on how to prepare and pay for college.  There are also links to other helpful websites.  At http://higheredutah.org/ there is information and news about the latest developments in higher education. At http://utahfutures.org/, you can find more information about planning for college and preparing for a career.  The UHEAA also has information for single moms who want to continue their education http://www.uheaa.org/singlemom/index.html.  I would encourage you to review these websites to help you prepare for your future higher education opportunities.  There is no better investment than an investment in your education.

Recognizing the Work of UNICEF Red

by Senator Luz Robles
Minority Caucus Manager

This legislative session, I sponsored SJR7 “Joint Resolution on the United Nations Children Fund” in response to a request from a group of students from the University of Utah.  Unfortunately due to politics, the resolution was not assigned to a committee and was held in the Rules Committee through the entire session.

Because I felt it was important to bring the message from this group and to recognize the work of this group, I decided to present a Senate Citation recognizing UNICEF Red.  UNICEF Red is a University of Utah official campus student group, which was recognized for its partnership with the United Nations Children Fund in its effort to save and improve the lives of children all over the world.  The two University of Utah students I worked with drafting the resolution and citation and who accepted the citation on the Senate floor today are:  Sayra Moran, Chair of Advocacy, and Matt Beckstead, Communications Officer, of the UNICEF Red student group.

UNICEF Red is a student-led organization on the campus of the University of Utah that partners with the U. S. Fund for UNICEF to educate, advocate, and fundraise for UNICEF’s lifesaving work.  UNICEF works in more than 150 countries to save children’s lives through immunizations, nutrition, heath care, emergency humanitarian assistance, and programs that confront the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

The timing is perfect as hundreds and thousands of children are suffering due to the two horrendous earthquakes that we have seen this year in Haiti and Chile.

Sayra Moran and Matt Beckstead of UNICEF Red

Nonprofit Day on the Hill

Last Thursday, February 25, members of the Utah nonprofit community came together at the Capitol to promote a greater understanding of the role and impact these organizations have on the quality of life in Utah.  Sponsors of the second annual “Nonprofit Day on the Hill” are Utah Nonprofits Association, Utah Society for Environmental Education, Utah Afterschool Network, and Utah Cultural Alliance.

The mission of the Utah Nonprofits Association is to strengthen the Utah nonprofit community through its focus on mutual support, management development through training, and sector-wide advocacy.

The Utah Society for Environmental Education’s mission is to provide statewide leadership to expand the quality, scope and effectiveness of environmental education.  To achieve this goal, USEE serves as a resource for environmental educators, K-12 teachers, higher education and the Utah community at large.

The Utah Afterschool Network supports state-wide afterschool partnerships that will impact policy development at all levels.  The organization works to secure resources and funding for high-quality afterschool programs.

The mission of The Utah Cultural Alliance is to provide a dynamic cultural environment to serve and strengthen the cultural community through advocacy, member services, and networking.

Thirty-three member organizations spoke to legislators, including Senator McAdams and Senator Romero, about the numerous benefits provided to our communities through the collaborative efforts of nonprofit organizations.

Senator McAdams

 
Senator Romero